Keith helped baptize a beautiful girl that was brought to our CA home straight off the mean streets of Hollywood. You can see the utter joy on her face. She became one of our strongest prayer warriors, and part of our ministry team until she married... a few years after Keith went to be with the Lord in TX. We all have great stories of freedom and redemption! -- melody ...

Keith and I loved a huge Thanksgiving table jammed with family and friends and TONS of food! Even before we knew Jesus it was always a special day to us -- maybe because it was dedicated to God by our nation, and in our spirit's we could feel Him somehow... This year Enjoy Thanksgiving with those around you in warmth and love. Some call it "turkey day" but that can undermine the intention. It is a day for our nation to give Gratitude to God, whatever we may eat. Our first President understood that every person and every nation needed to acknowledge the goodness of God and do His will. This is at the core of America's foundation, and as imperfect as we are, there is no nation better.As Christians we don't need a "special day" to thank God. No matter our circumstance, we are comforted and blessed eternally. This is TRUTH. However, I admit I don't wake up every morning with the kind of overwhelming gratitude to God that He deserves... but I'm still working on it! May this day be a fresh reminder in my everyday life to do that -- if you like, please join me in my endeavor. melody (below read the orig. 1789 proclamation by our 1st President)"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7Thanksgiving ProclamationPresident George Washington, October 3, 1789By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.Geo. Washington ...

The point is, we do need to understand many are genuinley fearful. As Christians, our love and support for those who are afraid -- and also our distain of all fear tactics used against them... (no matter the source) will help bring calm -- and assurance that horrible things are not going to happen to decent law-abiding people of any color. This is a command from Jesus: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 hips://www.facebook.com/melodygreenoffcialpage...